Recommend me a TV/DVD for a boat...

Iain C

Iain C

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Right, before I get a flaming for not just indulging in the lost art of conversation over a nice bottle of red instead, the only likely programmes viewed on this TV are likely to be In The Night Garden, Postman Pat, Fireman Sam and Thomas the Tank Engine. OK, and maybe Top Gear possibly.

However if anyone can recommend me a TV with the following attributes, I'd be grateful...

Bulkhead mounting
Durable, not going to break on a boat
12V/240V options
Some kind of built in aerial or solution that does not involve the effort and expense of a masthead dish thing
Built in DVD or ideally Blu-Ray player (for Thomas and the Dinosaurs DVD)
Headphone port (so I don't need to listen to Ringo Starr's dulcet tones)
Compact...around the 20" mark should be fine

Thanks in advance!
 
I find the Cello range of TVs are amazing for this purpose (google search should show you loads of different sizes). Great value. Built in DVD player. Low power usage, 240v and 12v. We use ours to watch DVDs and YouTube or films downloaded from Amazon via iPad. You’ll need a cheap indoor aerial if you want to watch TV though...
 
I agree with Dukestar.
We bought a 22” Cello. Built in dvd, 12/240v., 1080.
Exceeded my expectations. We have a Glomex on the mast.
I think we paid about £170.

Fenders
 
As we are away from the UK we cannot watch TV. So I bought a small data projector and made a screen. I bought a cheap DVD player. Its like having a 50" TV but all in a cupboard when not in use
TudorSailor
 
davidjackson said:
We have a Linsar 12v LED TV/DVD. Very good sound quality, often criticised about small TVs. Bought from John Lewis so has 5 year warranty (only 2 years for the DVD). We have a mast top aerial, too.
Click to expand...

We also have a Linsar, but a basic 19" one without DVD (though one with DVD at home for a bedroom). Also from John Lewis, which is reassuring. We use a powered digital aerial which usually works pretty well if put in the cockpit, or sometimes in the cabin, (but not at low tide in our marina).
 
Cello are good but look out for ones with the 12 volt stabiliser to protect it from over voltage when charging. The Avtex though despite it;s high price is the best. Very wide viewing angle sound is OK and you can get versions with a satellite receiver built in as well as the DVD. Will auto tune in almost any country in Europe for digital TV
 
Up in Scotland, I found that our old normal internal aerial did not work too well after the change to digital.

After reading the various useful articles on this website

www.aerialsandtv.com/touringaerials.html#DMlogBestTouringAerial

I bought one of the DM Log aerials. I just keep it in the box it was delivered in. I normally set it up in the front cabin, orientated horizontally or vertically depending on whether we are on a main transmitter or a repeater. It works fine even though we are often in areas of poor signal strength.

Our TV is a normal domestic one and you just have to talk to a knowledgeable salesman(!) to find the one that works with an external transformer. It is now 8 years old, though we do take it off the yacht in winter.
 
Pretty standard views from me. UK distributed Cello is cheap and cheerful but Avtex is very good with excellent customer service. At the 18” size they come with built-in DVD but I don’t know any that have a built in aerial. Avtex has digital and satellite tuners. We have had both at sizes from 18” to 32”, I would buy either again although I think the Avtex is worth the difference. The sound on either isn’t great and we use a sound bar. This gave a buzzing with the cello but not with the Avtex.

A little more info on what we did for our boat and motorhome in the blog if you are interested.

https://mariadz.com/2017/05/22/entertainment-tv-on-a-boat-yes-i-know-sorry/
 
Whichever one you go for make sure it has mpeg4 tuner capability, necessary for receiving HD channels. Perhaps not too much of a problem in the UK but in France practically all tv channels are now HD.
 
Iain C said:
Right, before I get a flaming for not just indulging in the lost art of conversation over a nice bottle of red instead, the only likely programmes viewed on this TV are likely to be In The Night Garden, Postman Pat, Fireman Sam and Thomas the Tank Engine. OK, and maybe Top Gear possibly.

However if anyone can recommend me a TV with the following attributes, I'd be grateful...

Bulkhead mounting
Durable, not going to break on a boat
12V/240V options
Some kind of built in aerial or solution that does not involve the effort and expense of a masthead dish thing
Built in DVD or ideally Blu-Ray player (for Thomas and the Dinosaurs DVD)
Headphone port (so I don't need to listen to Ringo Starr's dulcet tones)
Compact...around the 20" mark should be fine

Thanks in advance!
Click to expand...

I love the nightgarden as well, especially Iggle Piggles little boat. Just don't let them switch over to CBBC after cbeebies as it carries on. Get them into bed so you can enjoy the evening ;)

( no comment on Top Gear )
 
Last edited:
Hoolie...my profuse apologies for having missed that reply. How will I live with myself? As I am currently on solo Dad duty (mum away on holiday horse riding...ooooo lots and lots of brownie points in my bank ready to be exchanged for lots of sailing weekends) it is possible I did not click on every link as I snatched 2 mins to have a look at the thread, having just come back from Aldi and seen the TV in the flesh, whilst discouraging the aforementioned toddler from opening everything I'd put in the trolley including trying to eat an uncooked pizza still in it's wrapping. So, yes, I did just come across them by chance!

Redfox...seriously, thanks for the tip...I notice they do a 24" too so I will measure up over Easter and see what the better fit it.

Dolabriform...Agreed, it has a certain magic, however I think Iggle Piggle's seamanship leaves a bit to be desired. Every night he takes his sail down, and although he does in fairness hoist an all-round white, he immediately goes to sleep without even a cursory glance to the horizon or even working up a quick EP. I've studied his boat carefully and I cannot see a radar reflector or even an AIS antenna. Tut tut. Oh, and I wish he and Upsy-Daisy would just get on with it...she's always snogging him, her bed on wheels follows her round everywhere, she goes all bashful every time she sees him...I mean I know he's a hunky sailor but the sexual tension is unbearable, she usually flashes her knickers at him every episode...I mean come on Iggle Piggle, can she make it any more obvious FFS?

upsy-and-iggle.jpg
 
Iain C said:
Hoolie...my profuse apologies for having missed that reply. How will I live with myself? As I am currently on solo Dad duty (mum away on holiday horse riding...ooooo lots and lots of brownie points in my bank ready to be exchanged for lots of sailing weekends) it is possible I did not click on every link as I snatched 2 mins to have a look at the thread, having just come back from Aldi and seen the TV in the flesh, whilst discouraging the aforementioned toddler from opening everything I'd put in the trolley including trying to eat an uncooked pizza still in it's wrapping. So, yes, I did just come across them by chance!

Redfox...seriously, thanks for the tip...I notice they do a 24" too so I will measure up over Easter and see what the better fit it.

Dolabriform...Agreed, it has a certain magic, however I think Iggle Piggle's seamanship leaves a bit to be desired. Every night he takes his sail down, and although he does in fairness hoist an all-round white, he immediately goes to sleep without even a cursory glance to the horizon or even working up a quick EP. I've studied his boat carefully and I cannot see a radar reflector or even an AIS antenna. Tut tut. Oh, and I wish he and Upsy-Daisy would just get on with it...she's always snogging him, her bed on wheels follows her round everywhere, she goes all bashful every time she sees him...I mean I know he's a hunky sailor but the sexual tension is unbearable, she usually flashes her knickers at him every episode...I mean come on Iggle Piggle, can she make it any more obvious FFS?

upsy-and-iggle.jpg
Click to expand...

That has to win post of the year :) :)
 
Iain C said:
Right, before I get a flaming for not just indulging in the lost art of conversation over a nice bottle of red instead, the only likely programmes viewed on this TV are likely to be In The Night Garden, Postman Pat, Fireman Sam and Thomas the Tank Engine. OK, and maybe Top Gear possibly.
Click to expand...

With that list of programmes aren't you going to be better off with a pre-loaded tablet?
 
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